THE BEER NUT: 6 beers you should be drinking right now

Wednesday

A new monthly series featuring the six beers The Beer Nut thinks are the best in his fridge and that you should rush out to buy right now.

The number one question I get asked by people is what beer am I really enjoying right now.

So, to answer that, I’m starting a new series. Once a month, I’ll write about the six best beers I’ve had in the past month. It could be totally new beers, it could be old favorites. Basically, they’re all going to be beers I really enjoyed and I think others really should drink, too.

Berkshire Brewing Company’s Life on Marzen

I’ve been a longtime fan of Berkshire Brewing Company, and Life on Marzen is their best beer. This South Deerfield brewery brews what is likely the best American version of the German-style that you can try. Rich and malty, it has just a hint of herbal hops in the finish. The only negative about this 6.8 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) fest beer is it only comes in 12-ounce cans. This beer screams for pint cans.

Jack’s Abby’s Craft Lager’s Copper Legend

You’ll find that these monthly lists will be heavily influenced by what beer season it is. And, for this time of year, it’s Oktoberfests for me because they’re my favorite seasonal style. If Berkshire’s is the best in the state, Jack's Abby's Copper Legend is not far behind. The Framingham brewery brews a crisper version of the style that is just a joy to drink. At 5.7 percent ABV, it’s not too strong, but it’s full bodied and is worth seeking out. I have some in my fridge now.

Lamplighter Brewing Company’s Giant’s Under the Sun

Lamplighter Brewing in Cambridge gets a lot of love for its IPAs – and rightly so – but their new Helles lager is absolutely fantastic. I grabbed a single recently at a local beer store and when I opened this 4.3 percent ABV lager, I fell in love. It’s an easy-drinking beer, light with floral hops and a biscuit malt background. This is the kind of beer that you could bring to a cookout and enjoy all day. Lager fans need to get their hands on this.

Lawson’s Finest Liquid’s Sip of Sunshine

This is not a new beer, but every time I drink it I’m still struck by how good it is. A few years ago, Sip of Sunshine was one of those beers people traveled to try to get a hold of, but thankfully now you can find it in your local packie on a relatively frequent basis. Now that it’s easy to find, it may not be as sought after as it once was, but it’s just as good as always. This 8 percent ABV IPA is kind of a bridge between the West Coast IPAs that ruled about a decade ago to the newer school New England or “juicy” IPAs that are the most popular today.

Loma Brewing Company’s Greek God of Hops

I’m a Boston Red Sox fan and I was always a fan of retired first baseman Kevin Youkilis, so I was looking forward to trying his brewery’s beer. Based in California, the Loma beers available in Massachusetts are brewed at the Harpoon Brewery in Boston. The Greek God of Hops is a 9 percent ABV double IPA. Reminiscent of a West Coast IPA with piney hop flavors mixed in with citrus and maybe a little lemon, it’s definitely – get ready for a cheesy baseball pun – a home run.

Moon Hill Brewing Company’s Pufnstuff

Pufnstuff is the third IPA on the list and a third version of the style. The Moon Hill Brewing Company’s (the brewing arm of the Gardner Ale House), Pufnstuff falls into the New England IPA category – less bitterness, hazier and “juicier.” You get a lot of various citrusy flavors – grapefruit, lemon and a hint of orange – that those who like the style but don’t want to have to wait in line for it will enjoy.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For beer news and info, follow Norman Miller on Twitter and Instagram @RealBeerNut or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerBeerNut.